The analysis involved 10,367 residents, of whom 2414 (23.3%) used at least one NSAID; 756 (7.3%) used only oral, 1326 (12.8%) used only topical, and 332 (3.2%) used both topical and oral NSAIDs.

There were 1542 residents (14.8%) who used an NSAID long-term, a majority of whom only used topical NSAIDs 933/1542 (60.5%).

“Age, sex, and health status were associated with greater variation in long‐term topical use relative to oral NSAID use,” the researchers found.

“A majority of oral NSAID users concomitantly used a PPI, which varied according to age, sex, and health status. Among residents with any oral NSAID use, 182/1088 (16.7%) had triple whammy medication use.

The researchers concluded that, “Targeted interventions to reduce NSAID use among RACF residents, to reduce triple whammy medication use, and increase PPI use for long‐term oral NSAID users are warranted”.

Dr Lind warned that the number of people using the “triple whammy” combination outside residential aged care, in the community, could also be high.

“People expect if you can buy it in a supermarket they are safe,” she said.

“Maybe it is time to move them to pharmacy only.”

Pharmacist and herbalist Gerald Quigley, a regular presenter on Chemist Warehouse’s House of Wellness program, spoke to 2GB’s Luke Grant and said that while there was “nothing new about this” in pharmacy and medical circles, the mainstream media coverage could have helped highlight the issue to consumers.

“If you are controlling your bp with a particular type of medication called an ACE inhibitor – and there are a number of medications that are classed there – and you’re controlling your fluid with a diuretic, if you have got a prescription for a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, the pharmacist will be warned, and usually the doctor will as well because of their dispensing and medical programs that that combination puts that particular person at risk,” he told Mr Grant.

“And normally and hopefully, that’s picked up very readily and alternatives are found.

“This issue arises sadly when someone innocently buys a pack of those things, ibuprofen or diclofenac or naproxen and there’s a number of different brands available where you can buy them over the counter.

“And over the counter also means, in many instances, Luke, from the local supermarket.”

He said that it was likely that pharmacists could be accused of having a pecuniary interest in making money from the sale of NSAIDs, but a less jaundiced viewpoint was appropriate.

“I think a more broad and hopefully professional view is that at least the pharmacist can keep an eye on these things and intervene if the need arises,” he said.

“Now people are going to sneak under the radar, that’s going to happen. But it’s incumbent on the pharmacist to take therefore a much greater interest in the sale of any of these medications where the simple question is, do you happen to be taking anything for your blood pressure.

“There’s a warning on the side of the box, but do you read a box?”

Mr Quigley also warned listeners about the liver toxicity issues around paracetamol.

A spokesperson for the PSA told the AJP that pharmacists have an important role in supporting responsible self-care, and the provision of non-prescription medicines is a key component of this role.

“A pharmacist can ensure the provision of non-prescription medicines is consistent with the safe and quality use of medicines and appropriate to the needs of the patient,” they said.

“The safe and quality use of medicines is already on the government’s agenda with Health Minister Greg Hunt committing to PSA that this will be made a National Health Priority Area.

“PSA believes this will increase awareness around the important issue of medicine errors and may consider specific issues such as the supply of pain medicines.

“Pharmacists with their unique expertise in medicines and medicine management are ideally placed to identify and help resolve the issue of medicine-related harm and PSA and the pharmacy profession looks forward to working with the government on this health priority to ensure optimal health outcomes for all Australians.”

As pointed out by Mr Quigley, the issue of access to NSAIDs has been debated before. In February 2018, following the upschedule of low-dose codeine combinations, Ron Batagol and Professor Gregory Peterson said ibuprofen could become a “mainstay” for people seeking to treat pain without a GP visit.

They suggested that restricting ibuprofen to pharmacy-only could help prevent harms to many patients, including those with underlying cardiac or kidney conditions.

An AJP poll held at the time found that nearly three-quarters of pharmacists would like to see greater restrictions on the availability of ibuprofen.

Clinical Tips

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